Relationship between the serum TGF β1 level and anti organ-specific antibodies in vitiligo patients

Background: To our knowledge, there is a hypothesis regarding the association of vitiligo with other autoimmune disorders. Organ-specific autoantibodies are found more frequently in the serum of vitiligo patients. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of alterations in serum transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) released from regulatory T cells in the pathogenesis of depigmentation observed in vitiligo. It has been shown that in comparison with patients without autoimmune diseases, serum TGF-beta levels increase in patients whose vitiligo is associated with autoimmune diseases. We hypothesized a relationship between serum TGF-beta levels and organ-specific autoantibodies that could predict other autoimmune diseases in vitiligo patients. Method: Forty-five patients with a mean age of 35.96±13.34 years who had stable vitiligo since 1 year ago and involvement of up to 30% body surface area were enrolled. Organ-specific autoantibodies (ANA, anti mitochondrial Ab, anti TPO (anti thyroid microsomal Ab), anti parietal cell Ab, anti thyroglobulin Ab) and serum TGF-beta level were evaluated. Result: Twenty-three patients (51.11%) had at least one positive organ-specific autoantibody. Anti TPO in 16 patients, anti thyroglobulin Ab in 9 patients, anti parietal cell Ab and ANA each in 5 patients, and anti mitochondrial Ab in 4 patients were positive. Mean serum TGF-beta level was 105.82±30.33; there was no significant difference in serum TGF-b level between patients with and without positive organ-specific autoantibody (P=0.26). Conclusion: Although another study showed the relationship between serum TGF-beta levels and autoimmune disorders in vitiligo patients, we did not find a significant difference in serum TGF-beta levels in these patients regarding the positivity of organ-specific antibodies. It may be due to the fact that our patients had autoantibodies without clinical autoimmune disease except vitiligo.